Nutrition is the intake of food, considered in relation to the body s dietary needs (WHO) or the process of nourishing or being nourished

Transcription

1 Lesson 1 What is Nutrition? Nutrition is the intake of food, considered in relation to the body s dietary needs (WHO) or the process of nourishing or being nourished Nutrition is important for everyone and is a cornerstone of good health throughout the life cycle Poor nutrition can lead to: reduced immunity, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired physical and mental development, reduced productivity Nutrition and food are fuel The benefits of good nutrition are numerous: boost the immune system, improve sport performance, delays ageing, protects teeth and gums, enhanced concentration, fights and prevents disease, energy for life, keeping a healthy weight Nutrition and foods are not always good Malnutrition (over and under nutrition) are huge problems globally Under nutrition - indicates a lack of the necessary energy, protein or micro nutrients required by the body for good health e.g. protein-energy malnutrition Micronutrient deficiencies occur when the body lacks one or more micro nutrients resulting in deficiencies which usually affect growth and immunity e.g. anaemia (iron deficiency) Causes of under nutrition: lack of knowledge, fad diets, disease and illness, life cycle changes, poverty, inadequate diets Signs of under nutrition: o Unplanned weight loss o Weak muscles and/or loss of muscle o Feeling tired all the time o Low mood o Increase in illnesses or infections o Slow recovery from illness o Failure to grow at the expected rate o Changes in behaviour such as appearing unusually irritable, sluggish or anxious 842 million people globally, mostly in developing countries suffer from under nutrition and 1 in 3 child deaths are related to under nutrition Iron deficiency anaemia can occur when the body has a lack of red blood cells or haemoglobin to transport oxygen to the cells of the body most common cause lack of iron in the diet

2 Consequences include: fatigue, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, pallor and breathlessness Those at risk include: Infants > 6months and toddlers, menstruating women, pregnant women, vegetarians, diets lacking in Vitamin C, people with malabsorption or pathological blood loss Iron rich foods include: dark leafy greens, eggs yolks, broccoli, poultry, quinoa, red meat, shellfish, grains, dried fruits, lentils Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron more efficiently Over nutrition can lead to: Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease According to WHO Obesity is an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health

3 Obesity The causes of Obesity are numerous and complex and include: Obesity health implications include: stroke, heart disease, pancreatitis, female disorders, arthritis, inflamed veins, gout, cancer, gallstones, liver disease, lung disease, sleep apnoea

4 Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce any/enough insulin or when the body cannot use the insulin that it produces (WHO) There are 2 primary forms of diabetes Type 1 and Type 2 Symptoms include: frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, extreme tiredness, irritability, blurred vision, slow healing cuts Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease is a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and is the number 1 killer globally.

5 Risk factors include: unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol, genetics, An unhealthy diet + an inactive lifestyle can lead to elevated blood pres sure, blood glucose and blood lipids as well as overweightness or obesity. This can indicate an increased risk of developing a heart attack, stroke of heart failure A healthy diet and lifestyle can help to treat and prevent Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease. Good nutrition is extremely important

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